At a time of unprecedented interest in the role of colour in graphic design, fashion and interior design, Tate Liverpool presents Colour Chart: Reinventing Colour, 1950 to Today. The exhibition looks at the shifting moment in twentieth-century art, when a group of artists began to perceive colour as ‘readymade’ rather than as scientific or expressive. Taking the commercial colour chart as its point of departure, the exhibition emphasises a radical transformation in the post-War Western art that is characterised by the departure from such notions as originality, uniqueness and authenticity.

The exhibition has been organised by The Museum of Modern Art, New York and includes major works by more than forty artists, including Ellsworth Kelly, Andy Warhol, Gerhard Richter, Frank Stella, Yves Klein, Richard Serra, John Baldessari, Dan Flavin, Damien Hirst, David Batchelor, Jim Lambie, Angela Bulloch and Cory Arcangel.

TATE COLLECTION AT TATE LIVERPOOL

DLA Piper Series: This is Sculpture

From 1 May 2009 LOCATION: FIRST FLOOR AND SECOND FLOOR GALLERIES – Admission FreeSponsored by DLA Piper.Taking an ambitious and revolutionary look at the history of modern and contemporary sculpture, this major re-hang of Tate Liverpool’s collection display examines the trajectory of artistic innovation in the twentieth-century and beyond. DLA Piper Series: This is Sculpture explores the story of modern and contemporary sculpture, featuring masterpieces from the Tate Collection by artists such as Sir Jacob Epstein, Henry Moore, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Joseph Beuys, Gilbert & George, Cornelia Parker and Michael Landy. Sculpture in the form of object, installation, assemblage and ready-made will sit alongside more surprising forms, such as painting, video, photography, language and performance.

Key figures from the cultural arena, artist Michael Craig Martin, artist/writer Tim Etchells and architect Wayne Hemingway and his son Jack, have been invited to co-curate sections of the display.

TATE COLLECTION AT TATE LIVERPOOL

ARTIST ROOMS: Sol LeWitt12 May – 13 September 2009LOCATION: WOLFSON GALLERY – GROUND FLOOR – Admission FreeThroughout 2009, 18 museums and galleries across the UK will be showing over 30 ARTIST ROOMS from the collection created by the dealer and collector, Anthony d’Offay, and acquired by the nation in February 2008. This is the first time a national collection has been shared and shown simultaneously across the UK, and has only been made possible through the exceptional generosity of independent charity The Art Fund and, in Scotland, of the Scottish Government. As part of the tour, Tate Liverpool present Wall Drawing #1136 (2004) a major wall drawing by the influential American artist Sol LeWitt

This monumental and colourful work from the ARTIST ROOMS collection was first installed at Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco in 2004 and is a late example of LeWitt’s work, where vibrantly coloured bands are painted directly onto the wall of the gallery space. At Tate Liverpool it will span the 22 metre long wall of the ground floor gallery.

FAMILIES

Colour Lab29 May – 13 September 2009, 10.00-17.50LOCATION: FOURTH FLOOR GALLERY– Free with entry to Colour Chart: Reinventing Colour, 1950 to TodaySupported by the European Regional Development Agency.Explore colour in Tate Liverpool’s Colour Lab, and exciting interactive space for children and families visiting the Colour Chart: Reinventing Colour, 1950 to Today exhibition. Activities focus on playing with colour through paper based activities and 3D games.

Colour Lab also features a special activity in collaboration with the University of Liverpool, offering visitors the opportunity to undertake a short test on their perceptual colour judgements.

YOUNG TATEColour Tent10 – 14 August 2009 LOCATION: ALBERT DOCK /MERMAID COURT – FreeSupported by the Peter Cruddas Foundation.Young Tate will bring the exhibition Colour Chart: Reinventing Colour, 1950 to Today to life in a bright, interactive ‘Colour Tent’ marquee located in the Albert Dock’s Mermaid Court. From Monday to Friday young people aged 13-25 are invited to get creative with colourful arts projects and listen to live bands whilst meeting new people and soaking up the atmosphere.

Art on the Waterfront15 – 16 August 2009, 12.00 – 17.00LOCATION: GALLERIES & ALBERT DOCK – FreeSupported by the Peter Cruddas Foundation.Visit the gallery and ‘Colour Tent’ marquee located in Albert Dock’s Mermaid Court for a family-friendly weekend programme run by Young Tate. Activities will be based on the exhibition Colour Chart: Reinventing Colour, 1950 to Today. Enjoy interactive performances and a host of creative family activities including lantern making. The evening ends with a fun lantern parade from the docks to Pier Head.

This activity takes place as part of On the Waterfront season, organised by Liverpool City Council

LATE AT TATE

Art on the Waterfront – Colour Remixed15 August 2009, 18.00 – 21.00LOCATIONS: FOYER, CONCOURSE & WOLFSON GALLERY – FreeJoin Tate Liverpool’s late night addition to the ‘Art on the Waterfront’ weekend, a series of interactive evening activities based on current exhibitions.

Not just the BluesA DJ in the foyer will play a selection of genre-hopping tunes from the last half century inspired by colour.

Lighting LabPlay with coloured light in Tate Liverpool’s interactive Lighting Lab on the 4th Floor. Visitors can learn the skill behind colour mixing at this special session led by light and sound artist Kathrine Sandys (LIPA). Experiment with lighting gels with their own unique titles and catalogue numbers, and mix light to create new hues. Sessions take place every half an hour.

Booking is essential. Contact Tate Liverpool on 0151 702 7400

Chimes for a Wall DrawingVisitors are invited to become immersed in the sound of Sol LeWitt’s Wall Drawing #1136 as composer and sound artist Will Bolton performs in the gallery.

Bolton combines electronic tones with processed acoustic sounds including field recordings and musical instruments. In the spirit of Sol LeWitt’s use of seriality and arbitrary systems, Bolton uses the work as an inspiration and graphic score, mapping the seven spectrum colours onto the corresponding notes on coloured chime bars to produce an electro-acoustic composition. Experience the resulting elongated drones layered with field recordings made within the gallery in this special live performance.

This activity takes place as part of On the Waterfront season, organised by Liverpool City Council

FAMILIESPaint It In25 July – 31 August 2009, 11.00-17.00LOCATION: EDUCATION STUDIO (FIRST FLOOR) – FreeSupported by Tate Liverpool Members.Kids can experiment with colour in Tate Liverpool’s custom made painting studio. Fun painting activities explore the artists and artworks from Colour Chart: Reinventing Colour, 1950 to Today through learning new painting techniques and finding colour clues from around the gallery.

FAMILIES

DLA Piper Series: This is Sculpture Family Activity TrailEveryday 10.00 – 17.50LOCATION: FIRST AND SECOND FLOOR GALLERIES – FreePick up a free family bag from the foyer or the Family Room and join in a brand new family activity trail which takes visitors around the first and second floor galleries. The trail is packed with questions and drawing activities.

Suitable for ages 5- 12

FAMILIESTate ExplorersEvery Sunday and August bank holiday Monday (31 August), 13.30-16.30LOCATION: EDUCATION STUDIO (FIRST FLOOR) – FreeTate Explorer trolleys will be in the first and second floor galleries every Sunday. Collect a map or activity bag and join a journey of discovery to see, feel and learn about the art in the gallery. Fun new activities include magnetic drawing, mystery object drawing and ‘feely drawing’.

Suitable for ages 3-12.

FAMILIESTales at TateSaturday 1 AugustLOCATION: FIRST FLOOR GALLERIES, 13:00-15:00 – FreePoet and storyteller John Hughes tells his interactive poems, based on works from DLA Piper Series: This is Sculpture, in the gallery spaces.